Microwave food products and method of their manufacture and heating

ABSTRACT

A method and food product structure are provided for controlling heating of multi-component foods in a microwave oven. The structure and method include the use of a layer of edible substance with preselected properties and positioned adjacent to one or more food items to control the amount of transmitted microwave power to the adjacent food. The shield layer of edible substance has properties selected in relation to the other food substance such that effective shielding is achieved which will reliably control the heating of the shielded food in the time required for heating one or more portions of the multi-component food product. With preselected values for thickness and dielectric properties of the shield layer and the thermal masses of the shield layer and the other components, the amount of energy transmitted to the shielded food component and its final temperature can be effectively and reliably controlled.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 06/903,007 filed on Sept. 3, 1986.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a means and methods of controlling the heating of foods in a microwave oven, primarily to achieve differential heating between two or more edible substances positioned adjacent one another in a multi-component food product. It has been found that the desired degree of control by one food and hence the amount of heating of the other food is determined by certain physical properties of the food products.

In the heating of foods in a microwave oven, temperature differentials and differential heating have been achieved through the use of package shielding material. For example, it has long been practiced in microwave cooking to use microwave reflective packaging with various sized apertures to control the amount of microwave radiation simultaneously impinging on various foods. Such reflective packaging was metal or contained metal. The foods desired to be heated were separated in the package with each food having one or more preselected apertures in the shield adjacent the food. The heating of each food was tuned by selecting the appropriate size and/or shape of the aperture to achieve a desired temperature within the heating time of the package. Such packaging was relatively effective for certain food concepts which allowed separation of the components, but was expensive and required empirical design to be effective.

A major drawback to such an approach was that it required that each individual food component be in a separate compartment to separate each of the food substances to achieve the proper heating of each component. Another major drawback was that the shielding material was metal. In years past oven manufactures objected to and recommended against the use of metal in a microwave oven for fear of possible damage to the oven circuitry and because metal packaging can cause arcing which is a consumer detriment. Further, metal shielding is difficult to use with some packaging materials and is also expensive.

Numerous patents have addressed some of these problems, see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,081,646, 4,233,325, and 4,122,324.

To date, shielding of foods has been a packaging function and no one has been commercially successful in achieving controlled simultaneous heating of two or more foods absent this type of shielding. Even in the use of two of more food components together, no one has taught how to select properties of the control food to function as a microwave energy transmission inhibitor adjacent to and between the source of microwave energy and another food to accomplish controlled heating. Further, even with the above described metal shielding being available it has found little use and most microwave heating is still done until the foods being simultaneously heated reach some temperature with little or no control of the balance of the heating.

Likewise, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,600,566 to Moffet and 2,714,070 to Welch, when read in context, discuss the need for metallic shielding "packaging" to control heating of multi-component food systems. Further, these particular packaging concepts do not appear to be disposable, but appear to be permanent receptacles. Both patents discuss the concept of differential temperatures, for example, between a sauce and an ice cream through the use of metal shielding. Neither Welch nor Moffet discusses controlled heating of one food with a shielding or control food via control of the thickness, and dielectric properties of the shielding layer. For example, Welch states in columns 3 and 4. "Due to the action of shield 45, energy from the cooker 10 can penetrate the food body only from the top, thereof, through paper member 50. Since the sauce 49 is a relatively high loss substance, it will absorb substantially all the microwave energy passing therethrough with the result that little or no microwave energy passes into the ice cream body 47. The ice cream body 47 thus remains frozen and, due to the ice crystals therein, substantially entirely reflects any energy which does pass thru sauce 49 back into sauce 49. Since the cake member 48 is a relatively good heat insulator, the ice cream body 47 is not melted to any substantial extent by conductive heat from the sauce 49 . . . . The resulting product is an ice cream having a hot fudge sauce which may be eaten directly from the paper container 46 inside the shield member 45."

Surprisingly, it has been found that by control of the thickness and microwave load (a combination of dielectric properties of a control layer and the thermal loads) highly effective cooking control can be achieved. Thermal load can be defined as specific heat in calories/gram multiplied by the mass in grams. Another dimension of thermal performance is thermal diffusivity which is defined as the thermal conductivity (heat input rate in calories/seconds multiplied by distance in centimeters multiplied by temperature in degrees centigrade) divided by density and specific heat of the product. It has been found that certain foods can achieve a reflectance of about 65% and a transmission of as low as 20% or even lower, e.g., 10%, for high water layers, of the incident power and can function as an effective shield within given time constraints. Further, it was surprisingly found through calculation that conductive heat transfer from the shielding component to the shielded food component, when made in accordance with the invention, had little practical effect on heating of the shielded component within the short time that is required to heat many foods in a microwave oven, making it possible to allow the shielding layer to heat without detriment to the shielded layer. These factors make it possible to use edible foods or edible substances as shields to control heating of other foods in a microwave environment reducing the need for metal or other nonedible shields and insulating layers. The result is the ability to make new types of microwave foods and food systems that cannot be properly heated together in any other manner.

Given the physical characteristics of the components of the food system and a desired amount of differential heating it is possible to design multiple component food systems with controlled differential heating or temperatures at the end of microwave heating which overcome the above problems.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a multi-component food product.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the functional relationship between temperature differential and heating time for various multi-component food systems having different intermediate control layers: metal foil, control sauce with 24% water, a silicone foam insert, a high moisture sauce with 37% water, and no intermediate layer.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a functional relationship between the temperature and heating time of a shielded component of a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 with different intermediate layer thicknesses.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a functional relationship between ice cream temperature and heating time of products in a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 with and without an intermediate sauce layer.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a functional relationship between the temperature of a brownie in a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 and heating time for systems with and without an intermediate layer of shielding sauce.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a functional relationship between temperature differential, i.e., the temperature of the brownie minus the temperature of the ice cream as a function of heating time for a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 with and without an intermediate layer of sauce.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a functional relationship between temperature differential, i.e., the temperature of the brownie minus the temperature of the ice cream, as a function of heating time for a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 with different shielding layer thicknesses using the control sauce with 24% free water.

FIG. 8 is a three dimensional representation of a mathematical model showing a functional relationship between temperature differential, microwave heating time, and sauce thickness for the control sauce having a free water content of 24% for a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 having ice cream and brownie on opposite sides of the shielding layer.

FIGS. 9A, B, and C are graphs showing functional relationships between four variables; reflected power, absorbed power, shielded power, and relative heating rate (absorbance/thickness) such as a function of shielding layer thickness for a shield layer having relative dielectric constant (E')(hereinafter dielectric constant) values of 13, 26, and 39 and relative dielectric loss factor (E") (hereinafter dielectric loss factor) values of 3.5, 7.0, and 10.5, respectively. E' is the real part and E" is the imaginary part of the complex permittivity as is well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, A. Von Hippel, Dielectric Materials and Applications, MIT Press, 1954.

FIGS. 9D, E, F, and G are graphs showing functional relationships between four variables; reflected power, absorbed power, shielded power, and relative heating rate. When these figures are viewed in combination with FIG. 9B they show the effect of changing E' or E" while holding the other constant.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a functional relationship between the temperature differential between sauce layer and ice cream for a currently existing product called Hot Scoop which is ice cream and sauce in an unshielded paper cup compared to a product similar to that shown in FIG. 1 having a control sauce layer and ice cream, but with metal shielding on the side of the container also as shown in FIG. 1. The limitations on this graph are discussed hereinafter.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing a comparison of heating temperature profiles of ice cream as a function of heating time in a microwave oven for two Hot Scoop products and the invention using ice cream, brownie, and sauce in a metal shielded cup.

FIG. 12 shows a functional relationship between shear force necessary to shear broccoli after heating in microwave oven for broccoli which was prepared in a microwave oven for a given period of time with no shielding cheese sauce, broccoli with a shielding cheese sauce and for raw broccoli without any heating.

FIG. 13 is a pictorial illustration showing the pounds force per gram necessary to shear bread in an Instrom machine for bread heated using a system with and without gravy as a shielding layer. This graph illustrates the increased toughening of bread for a system without a gravy shield.

FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a functional relationship between temperature differential (between shortcake and whipped cream) and microwave heating time with one system having an intermediate layer of strawberry sauce and another system having no intermediate filling layer of strawberry sauce.

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating a functional relationship between filling temperature and heating time for the same system as that used to generate the data for FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing a functional relationship between shortcake temperature and microwave heating time for a strawberry sauce layer shielded system and for a system without an intermediate shielding layer.

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating the whipped cream topping temperature as a function of microwave heating time for a product with a strawberry sauce shield layer and for a product without shielding sauce. This was the same system as that which was used to generate the data for FIGS. 14, 15, and 16.

FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating temperature differential between crust and ice cream as a function of microwave heating time for products with and without apple pie filling between the two layers.

FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating a functional relationship between the temperature of the apple filling and ice cream for the product used to generate the data in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating average ice cream temperature as a function of heating time for the apple filling and ice cream system. The data was generated using the same product used to generate the data in FIGS. 18 and 19.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing functional relationships between ice cream temperatures and heating time for products similar to that in FIG. 1 that had different ice cream weights and heated in two different ways, in a microwave oven and sitting in a room at room temperature.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing a functional relationship between temperature of the shielding sauce layer and microwave heating time for four different thicknesses.

FIG. 23 is a three dimensional representation of a mathematical model showing a functional relationship between intermediate layer sauce temperature, sauce thickness, and microwave heating time for a sauce having a free water content of 24% and a multi-component food system as shown in FIG. 1 having ice cream and brownie on opposite sides of the shielding layer.

FIG. 24 is an illustration generally showing a possible functional relationship between tolerance to heat of the shielded component and the amount of microwave energy transmitted through the shielding component(s) which is useful to directionally design multi-component food systems.

FIG. 25 is a graph illustrating functional relationships between ice cream temperature and microwave heating time. Line A represents a 314 gram ice cream sample and Line B represents a 100 gram charge of ice cream surrounded on all sides by fudge sauce with a substantially uniform thickness and weighing 444 grams. No metal shielding was used.

FIG. 26 is a graph showing functional relationships between ice cream temperatures and microwave heating time. Line A represents a 544 gram charge of ice cream, Line B represents a 314 gram charge of ice cream and Line C represents a 100 gram charge of ice cream surrounded with a substantially uniform thickness of fudge sauce weighing 444 grams. No metal shielding was used.

FIG. 27 is a side sectional view of a container similar to that shown in FIG. 1 containing another form of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a side sectional view of a multi-component food product in a package showing a still further form of the present invention and is similar to that form used in FIGS. 25 and 26, an entirely food enrobed food product.

FIG. 29 is a side sectional view of another food product having a control layer inside.

FIG. 30 is a graph showing functional relationships between ice cream temperature and microwave heating time for ice cream in an unshielded container, one of the products was enrobed in a layer of sauce.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The physics of microwaves in a food system is extremely complicated and little is known about how microwave heating in foods is accomplished. The complication, in large part, could be due to the fact that food systems themselves are extremely complicated, presenting many looks to the microwave field. Such things as preferential heating, the differing chemical natures of foods, nonhomogeneity, the varying locations that discreet food items with different microwave characteristics are positioned next to one another within a single food system, hot and cold spots in an oven, etc. These all complicate the food scientist's and package designer's jobs in designing food products for heating in a microwave oven.

In developing the hereinafter described differentially heating food products, certain discoveries were made about the characteristics of the edible components of these systems which were a surprise. The major surprises were that through property selection one could control how much incident radiation can be shielded by, or how little will be transmitted through, some food components or edible substances and how little effect conductive heat transfer can have in the overall heating of food products within the short time necessary to heat food items in a microwave oven. Other surprises were that: theoretically an increase in thickness in excess of a minimum does not necessarily substantially change the shielding value and a change in thickness above the minimum can simultaneously change absorbance and reflectance oppositely in cycles. As can be seen in FIGS. 9A, B, and C, absorbance and reflectance cycles with increasing thickness in an opposing manner as thickness increases over small dimensional changes allowing great latitude in product design. The combination of the low microwave transmission of certain food components and the small role that conduction and other forms of heat transfer can play, provided the basis for achieving controlled differential heating in multi-component food systems, i.e., two or more food or edible components positioned adjacent or proximate to one another. Within a given time of heating in a microwave oven we have been able to achieve predictable and controlled temperatures which were different, say for example, 11° C. or more, with some differentials being as high as 65° C. to 80° C. and even as high as 110° C. (See FIG. 2) over small distances, for example 2 cm. Even more surprising is that the food systems of this invention are tolerant to different ovens and varying heating times. These tolerances are important for the effective preparation of the items by consumers.

Tolerance is important because of timer variation from oven to oven, the different power outputs of different ovens and because of the hot/cold spot phenomena in ovens. This means that for a given time of exposure, the amount of available energy for heating a food product can significantly vary thereby causing the product to be either overheated or underheated. Without tolerance, consumer acceptance of heat sensitive food products could be unacceptably low. Tolerance of products is dependent on the particular product being heated and the consumer concept of quality for that particular product. For example, ice cream, which is very sensitive to heating, has a very small heat tolerance range. Quality ice cream should be stiff or viscous and not soupy. In contrast, soup, which is not sensitive to heating, would be very tolerant. What is meant by tolerance herein, is that given the above described variabilities in microwave ovens, etc., that a substantial percent of the products after being heated in a microwave oven according to the instructions will have a level of quality acceptable to the consumer. Tolerance can be tested organoleptically which is a standard procedure in the food industry.

FIG. 1 shows a food system which was a basis for the present invention. Food item or component 1 is a brownie and food item or component 2 is ice cream. It was desired to heat the brownie to a serving temperature of approximately 43° C.-60° C. while the ice cream remained "frozen", i.e., at a temperature of approximately -9° C. or colder without appreciable localized melting of the ice cream for example at the interface between the brownie and ice cream. As used herein, unless otherwise designated, frozen means the product is at a temperature of less than 0° C. Container 3 has a shield 4, preferably metal, on the sidewall, extending from the top down to approximately the top surface of the brownie. The top of the container also has a shielding closure or lid 5, preferably metal, to shield incident radiation from the sides and top of the ice cream. The lid 5 is removably secured to the container 4 and can be glued or heat sealed on and preferably includes a piece of metal foil, for example, aluminum foil, attached to the top of a container in a manner as is known in the art. The shield or control layer 6 is positioned between the layers 1 and 3.

FIG. 27 illustrates another form of the present invention and contains two different edible products 7 and 8. For example, layer 7 can be a sauce, shielding or control layer positioned inside cup 3. The cup 3 can also have the shield 4 therearound. The lid 5 shields the open end of the cup 3 and, as seen in FIG. 1, can be recessed in the cup 3. The layer of product 8 can be, for example, ice cream. The form of the invention shown in FIG. 27 can be, for example, a layer of cheese sauce 7 and a layer of broccoli 8 as described hereinafter in one of the examples.

FIG. 28 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention which includes a cup 3 having a lid 9 secured to the top thereof in any suitable manner. The lid 9 need not be metal if the shielding or control layer 10 has sufficient shield value. Enrobed within the layer 10 is another edible component 11 which can be, for example, ice cream, and the shield layer 10 can be a sauce. If the shield value of the layer 10 is adequate, then the shield 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 27 need not be added.

FIG. 29 shows a still further embodiment of the present invention comprising a two-component food product. In this example, the control layer is the layer 14 sandwiched between or encased in edible component 15. In this particular embodiment, the control layer 14 can have its physical properties adjusted as hereinafter described to help control the heating of the exterior layer 15 while controlling the relative values of its own absorbance and reflectance.

In the development of the present invention, a three layer system was initially used, i.e., a layer of brownie, a layer of sauce thereon, and a layer of ice cream on top of the sauce as seen in FIG. 1. It was noted that when the layer of sauce was eliminated there was more heating and melting of the ice cream. Then, various control layers were interposed between the brownie and ice cream. It was initially believed that the improved performance from the sauce layer was due to the thermal insulation of the intermediate layer. To test this theory, experiments were conducted using aluminum foil and a silicone foam insert as the intermediate layer. The results of that type of experimentation are shown in FIG. 2. The surprise was that it was not thermal insulation which was making the sauce layer prevent heating of the ice cream, but it was in fact the nontransmission of microwave energy to the ice cream. This is graphically shown by the fact that the highest temperature differential is achieved by a very good conductor of heat and a perfect reflector of microwave energy, i.e., the aluminum foil, while the good insulator and high transmitter of microwave energy, provided one of the lowest temperature differentials. At this same time, the theoretical understanding was being developed which explained the phenomenon of reflectivity and absorbance as functions of thickness and dielectric properties of certain types of food products.

Thus, by interposing an unneeded intermediate edible layer 6 of sauce between the ice cream 2 and the brownie 1, which was initially added only for meeting the definition of the product concept, i.e., a brownie with chocolate sauce and ice cream, the temperature differential between the brownie and ice cream was substantially increased when the properties of that layer were properly selected.

The shield or control layer(s) can be defined as an edible layer that affects the microwave irradiation of another edible product or component in the food product, i.e., it is capable of being used for control or it is selected or intended for the purpose of control or is suitable for control. It is to be understood that all components have an effect on the system to some degree. The use of the layer as a shield can provide shielding control of the time/temperature relationship and final temperature of one or more of the components of the system.

With the use of the invention, effective heating of the brownie and almost complete elimination of detrimental heating of the ice cream were achieved. It was found that this intermediate layer, if it had a high water content, was very low in transmissivity (high in the sum of absorbance and reflectance) of the incident power thereby acting as an effective edible shield when positioned between the food product to be shielded and the microwave environment. It was also a surprise that the control layer could also enhance heating of the brownie thereby reducing the time of exposure to radiation for a given brownie size. The invention permits the design and use of new types of microwave products because edible instead of nonedible shields, as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,325, can be used. This edible shield in combination with the side and top metal shield, as seen in FIG. 1, prevented detrimental heating of the ice cream within the time period required to heat the brownie, thereby improving the performance of the multi-component food system. Thus, this interposed layer is an edible shield which fulfills a long felt need in microwave food heating.

FIG. 2 shows temperature differentials which graphically illustrate the effectiveness of the present invention compared to a food system with no intermediate layer and an ineffective layer.

In order to test the theory of operability of the present invention, certain experiments were conducted. Some of the results are illustrated in FIG. 2. A brownie-sauce-ice cream system was used and opposite ends of the spectrum of reflectance and heat transfer were also tested using a brownie-metal foil or silicone foam-ice cream system. Line A in FIG. 2 shows heating results when an aluminum foil layer was positioned between the brownie and ice cream. This foil, for practical purposes, is a perfect reflector (no transmission or absorption) and a perfect conductor of heat. Another experiment utilized an insulating layer, which for practical purposes is a perfect transmitter of microwave energy and a perfect thermal insulator. The particular layer was a silicone foam. Line E in FIG. 2 shows heating results for this foam layer.

FIG. 2 shows a functional relationship between temperature differential and heating time for a three component system as shown in FIG. 1 having a brownie and an ice cream layer with an interposed shielding layer. Temperature differential is the temperature difference between the brownie and the ice cream. The temperatures were taken in four places, two in the brownie 1 cm up from bottom and 2 cms in from the side and two in the ice cream 3 cm up from bottom and 2 cms in from the side with at least 8 runs for each sample with the temperatures being averaged numerically. The sauce had a thickness of 6 mm with the high moisture sauce having a free water content of 37%. (Unless otherwise indicated all component concentrations listed herein are percents by weight). The normal or control sauce had a free water content of 24%. The foil used was aluminum foil with a thickness of 0.0025 cm and the edges fit tightly against the inside wall of the container. The foam pad was a silicon foam having a thickness of 3 mm also fitting tightly against the inside surface of the cup. The no intermediate layer product had the brownie and ice cream in contact with one another. The brownie had a thickness of 1.7 cm and weighed 42 grams and the ice cream had a butter fat content of 12% by weight, an overrun of 70% and a charge weight of 60 grams.

FIG. 2 shows that the lower the transmission of microwave energy, through the use of a reflector like metal foil or higher moisture content sauces, the higher the temperature differential. The foam pad which provided the highest transmission and the best insulation, generally provided the lowest temperature differential showing that it is the transmission of microwave energy which is the primary cause of heating the shielded component. The temperature profile of heating of the foam layer product is Line E, FIG. 2. The reversal of the curves for the no intermediate layer and the foam pad at about 80 seconds is probably due to conductive heat transfer showing an effect with time.

It can be seen that the aluminum foil, the "perfect" reflector and "perfect" conductor of heat provided the highest temperature differential while the foam, a "perfect" transmitter of microwave energy and "perfect" insulator, provided the lowest temperature differential. The prior art had discussed the need for insulators to prevent detrimental heating. Thus the best performance, with regard to temperature differential, being from the best heat conductor and the worst performance being the poor heat conductor was a surprise. These results provide support for the theory that it is control of the transmission of microwave energy in food systems of this type which is the key contributing factor to achieving temperature differential, not thermal insulation which the prior art considered to be required. Thus, a relatively high heat conductive layer with controlled transmissivity can be effectively used.

The theory of operation of the present invention is further illustrated in FIGS. 9A, B, and C which show curves for reflectance, absorbance, shielding, and related properties of the intermediate layer as a function of layer thickness. The curves are based on calculations. FIG. 9A is specific to the control sauce type intermediate layer described above and having the following properties E'=13 and E"=3.5 which has a free water content of 24%. FIGS. 9B and 9C utilize different E' and E" values for comparison and would represent layers with increased water contents. The locations and intensities of the maxima and minima on these types of curves are dependent on the dielectric properties of the layer material.

The disposition of microwave energy in the product in FIG. 1 can be approximately defined by the theoretical relationships in FIGS. 9A, B, and C. For example, the amount of power or radiation that is delivered to the brownie is largely dependent on the amount of power reflected by the intermediate layer. However, the amount of power that is delivered to the ice cream is largely dependent on both the amount of power reflected by and absorbed in the intermediate layer. Thus, by addition of the amount of power reflected by and absorbed in the intermediate layer, it is possible to determine the amount of power that has been shielded by the intermediate layer as shown in FIGS. 9A, B, and C. The relative heating rate of the intermediate layer which was calculated from the absorbance and thermal load of the layer is also displayed in FIGS. 9A, B, and C. It is apparent that the effectiveness of the layer as a shield can remain high through a wide range of thicknesses, but its absorbing and reflecting properties and subsequently its ability to heat can vary significantly with a change in thickness. In general, an increase or decrease in absorbance or reflectance results in a decrease or increase, respectively, in the other. The relationships described in FIGS. 9A, B, and C show that food materials can act the same as other shielding boundaries and differently because it can also absorb, thereby allowing the achievement of temperature differentials and differential heating as desired in the product in FIG. 1 or the achievement of other beneficial dispositions of microwave power within a food product in an effective and controlled manner.

Another test of the theory of operability of the present invention involved the measurement of the temperature differential between the brownie and the ice cream as a function of intermediate layer thickness. To understand the results one should review FIG. 9A, a theoretical series of curves based on a layer having E'=13 and E"=3.5. This figure indicates that the percent of power reflected by the intermediate layer should rise from zero to a maxima and then fall to a minima between layer thicknesses of 0 cm and about 1.6 cm. The power reflected by the intermediate layer helps heat the brownie in FIG. 1 and also helps shield the ice cream, thereby, exerting a major effect on the temperature differential between the two components. FIG. 7 illustrates the results of experimentation varying intermediate layer thickness of the brownie-sauce-ice cream system between 0 cm and 1.6 cm. On the three dimensional graphical representation, FIG. 8, temperature differential is plotted as a function of both layer thickness (mm) and microwave preparation time (P, seconds). It is observed that the curve of this plane in space shows a strong relationship to the shape of the reflectance curve of FIG. 9A. Thus, the theory and the practical application of that theory are in good agreement.

Another test of the theory of operability of the present invention involved the measurement of intermediate layer temperatures as a function of intermediate layer thickness. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the relative heating rate of the intermediate layer is highest at very low thicknesses, falls to a minimum and then rises to a maximum at about 1.6 cm. FIG. 22 illustrates the results of experimentation measuring the sauce temperatures of the brownie-sauce-ice cream system at sauce thicknesses between 0.4 and 1.6 cm. As can be seen from this data the heating rate is highest at 0.4 cm (temperature in still lower sauce thicknesses cannot be accurately measured with a Luxtron model 750 fluoroptic thermometric system), slightly lower at 0.8 cm, lowest at 1.2 cm and then higher again at 1.6 cm. A mathematical model of sauce temperature as functions of sauce thickness and microwave preparation time was prepared using this data. The three dimensional representation of this model is illustrated in FIG. 23. It is observed that the curve of this plane in space shows a strong relationship to the relative heating rate curve of FIG. 9A. Thus, again, the theory and the practical application of that theory are in good agreement.

By properly selecting, either by calculation or empirically, the thermal loads of the two main components of the system in combination with proper microwave characteristics of the shield layer effective differential heating can be achieved in a three or more component system. Further, work has also indicated that in a two component system, one component with properly selected properties can also be effectively used to shield the other component to achieve differential heating. For example, this might take the form of cheese sauce and broccoli wherein the broccoli can be on top of the cheese sauce. The cheese sauce can be heated and also act as a shield to prevent the broccoli from objectionable heating or overcooking. The time necessary to heat such systems also needs to be controlled in relation to the physical characteristics of the food system components.

By selecting the relative thermal loads of the components in the multi-component system, the dielectric properties (e.g., E' and E") and geometries of the components of the system, it is possible to reliably control the absorbance, reflectance, transmission, and shielding ability of them and subsequently reliably control the disposition of microwave power in a multi-component food system. Geometry has an effect on the system. For example, the physical dimensions of, the shape of and the relative positions of the components play a part. These can be selected empirically or through experimentation. It is preferred that the shield layer be generally the same shape as the surface it is in contact with, i.e., it coincides with the shape of the edible components adjacent thereto.

The series of curves illustrated in FIGS. 9A, B, and C indicate the dependency of the absorbance, reflectance, shielding ability (absorbance plus reflectance), and layer heating rate on the dielectric constant (E') and dielectric loss factor (E") with varying layer thicknesses. FIG. 9A represents the relationships for the chocolate sauce described above as calculated from a mathematical model of that chocolate sauce layer (24% free water) suspended in space. This sauce is believed to have values of 13.0 and 3.5 for E' and E", respectively. As the values of E' and E" increase in FIGS. 9A, B, and C, the intensities (amplitudes) of all the peaks on similar plots increase while the wavelength of the generally sinusoidal curves decreases. This is illustrated in FIG. 9B which is projected for an intermediate layer with the following dielectric properties of E'=26.0 and E"=7.0. Further increases in these values to E'=39.0 and E"=10.5 yield the relationships illustrated in FIG. 9C with even higher intensities and lower wavelengths. Consequently, by controlling the thickness and dielectric properties of the intermediate layer it is possible to control the reflectance, absorbance, shielding ability, and heating rate of that layer and vary reflectance and absorbance several times over a wide range of thicknesses above a minimum thickness. This permits the design of numerous products having acceptable performance at different thicknesses. It is also possible to use the above described relationships to design even single component food products to heat in accordance with the same criteria set forth for the multi-component systems.

In addition to controlling the functionality of the active or shield (intermediate) layer one should also consider the properties of the materials (layers) adjacent the active layer. For example, the shielding ability of the intermediate layer can be varied as described above to optimize the shielding effect but the microwave and thermal loads of the component being shielded should also be considered. If the sauce in the example discussed remains constant and is shielding about 80% of the incident microwave power as is suggested in FIG. 9A, the remaining 20% transmitted through the layer will have a greater effect on raising the temperature of a small amount of ice cream than it will on a large amount just due to the thermal load of the ice cream. This is illustrated in FIG. 21 which shows the effect of the amount of ice cream being shielded with a constant intermediate layer. It can be observed that the small amount of shielded ice cream heats up more rapidly than higher amounts of shielded ice cream.

Therefore, one should first consider the relationships identified in FIGS. 9A, B, and C to optimize the desired property (i.e., reflectance, absorbance, heating rate, and/or shielding ability) of the active (intermediate) layer. One should then consider the effects of the materials in close proximity to the active layer as seen in FIG. 21.

It is likely, in certain cases, such as small single serving type products, say 200 grams or less, where the thermal and microwave loads are small, that these factors will not combine to yield a satisfactory product. If this occurs, the use of packaging shields and/or absorbers, as part of the total product may be required.

As seen in FIGS. 10, 11, 21, 25, and 26, the importance of relative thermal load and the need for shielding in low thermal load products are graphically illustrated.

Performance estimates can also be calculated for systems with and without shielding. This was done for a a 5 cm. cube of ice cream with an assumed E' value of 3 and an E" value of 0.8 and 100% overrun. The time to half-melt the ice cream in a cube form was calculated for differing shielding arrangements. Energy required to half-melt the ice cream of 62.5 grams was 336 calories by calculation which in a 700 watt oven will half-melt in about 26 seconds if unshielded. This can be calculated by the equations:

    P/V=2 E.sub.o fE"E.sup.2.sub.rms

    T=Q/P

Where:

P =Power

V =Volume of product

E_(rms) =Electric field strength

f =Frequency

E" =Dielectric loss

E_(o) =Permittivity of free space

T =Time

Q =Heat required to half-melt

Based on theory, if the product is shielded on all but one side and is in the form of a cube so that all sides are of equal area, incident power on the ice cream is 1/6 of the unshielded cube case which by calculation would take about 21/2 minutes to half-melt. If the open side of the shield has positioned therein, a shielding sauce layer with 60% reflection and 20% absorbance by the shield layer, time to reach half-melt would be approximately six minutes and thirty seconds. However, if one assumes a shielding layer with dielectric properties characteristics of butter 0.8 cm thick having a reflectance of about 25% and an absorbance of about 10%, then the time to half-melt, by calculation, would be about three and a half minutes, i.e., not much different than the unshielded version.

It is seen that the shielded cube decreases the incident microwave power by about 5/6. In addition a poor reflecting layer (e.g., butter with 25% reflection) in the shielded cube (packaging shields on the sides and top) will only be about 53% as effective as the high reflectance sauce product at shielding the ice cream (i.e., melts in 53% of the time). The same amount of ice cream totally unshielded will be 7% as effective and the ice cream in the shielded cube without a sauce layer will be about 40% as effective as the system with a high reflectance sauce.

In the practice of the present invention a determination which needs to be made is the desired temperature or heating differential. Another determination which needs to be made is how the product will be distributed. Will it be distributed frozen, refrigerated or shelf stable, i.e., the starting temperature of the product needs to be known. More importantly, the properties of the product just prior to exposure to microwave radiation should be known to properly design the product. Generally a product will be microwaved directly from storage and the storage conditions will be the starting condition of the product. However, a product may be stored at -10° C. but heated after a thaw or preheating period. The microwave properties could be substantially different at these different temperatures. Thus, the properties of the product as hereinafter described are those just prior to the product being exposed to microwave radiation for consumption. This would be after preheating, thawing, etc. either in the microwave, after holding at an elevated temperature or the like. Usually it is the final and major exposure to microwave radiation that prepares the product for consumption that is the condition for which the product is designed. By selecting the relative thermal loads, adjusting the dielectric properties of the components of the food system, the reflectance, absorbance and transmission of the shielding component and the time necessary to heat the portion which should be hotter or require more heat input, the desired differential can be reliably achieved.

In order to practice the present invention effectively, the shielding layer should be immiscible with the other layer(s) in contact therewith. Immiscible means that the two layers remain substantially separate or distinct having a substantially distinct interface between the two layers. Immiscibility can be achieved by the control of the properties of each of the layers or can also be provided by a barrier film between the two layers which is also preferably edible. What is believed to be important is not a complete separation of the layers over time, but the provision of a sharp change or break in dielectric properties (E' and/or E") at the interface between the two layers. Preferably the layers remain immiscible, at least initially during exposure to microwave radiation. Also, the shielding layer should be high in water because 1) water is inexpensive, and 2) water is a very effective and edible shield and has easily variable dielectric properties by the addition of viscosifiers and other soluble materials. The water should preferably be nonfrozen, i.e., in this case not in the ice or crystalline form even when it is at a temperature below 0° C. Ice content can be easily affected by the addition of freezing point depressants such as sugars, salt, etc. Also, by adding sufficient viscosifiers such as starch, gums or sugars or others, it could easily be made immiscible with a host of other food product layers and by binding the water effectively with the additives there will be little moisture migration during storage and can be stored over a wide range of temperatures without loosing its immiscibility. An edible barrier can also be interposed between two layers to provide immiscibility if less viscous or higher water layers are desired.

As seen in FIGS. 9A, B, and C, by changing the dielectric properties of the shielding layer, which can be easily done by changing the free water content, the functionality of the shield can be easily adjusted.

As seen in FIG. 24, if the shielded product is less tolerant to heat take-up or temperature increase, e.g., small thermal load or degraded by a small increase in temperature or heat uptake, then more shielding is required. Conversely, if the product is more tolerant to heat uptake or temperature increase, then less shielding is required. The tolerance to heat of the shielded product is dependent upon its dielectric properties, its thermal mass and also its sensory attributes. The amount of shielding can be varied as discussed above by varying the makeup of the shielding layer and also by using in combination therewith metal shielding or other shields. As seen from the disclosure herein, the smaller the food item that is to be shielded, generally the more incident radiation which needs to be shielded from the product particularly when it is not very tolerant to heat uptake as for example ice cream.

It is believed important to have the boundary between the shielding layer and the other layers be distinct in order to provide good reflection and hence low transmission because of an impedance mismatch between the layers, i.e., a sharp change in impedance between the layers. The layers should preferably be in contact with one another, i.e., no air gap therebetween. From reviewing the graphs of FIGS. 9A, B, and C, it is seen, particularly for products with high E' and E" values, that the slope of the shield curve is initially very steep as it relates to a change in layer thickness. Thus, desirably, the layer thickness is chosen at about or beyond the peak of the initial incline so that minor variations in thickness do not adversely affect the amount of transmitted microwave energy particularly for systems intolerant to heat uptake. This peak or change in slope of the shield value curve can be approximated by the first point of inflection of the first derivative of the shielded power curve. For example, in FIG. 9A, the first point of inflection occurs near 80%. Also, the required thickness of this layer can be changed by varying the dielectric properties of the layer and achieve the same shield value. Thus, one can see that a multi-component layered food system can be easily manufactured where a shielding layer can effectively shield a shielded product to control the disposition of microwave energy within the multi-component food system.

As described above the shield layer is used to control the amount of energy transmitted to the shielded component. Preferably the shielding layer has thickness such that the shield value (absorbance plus reflectance) just prior to exposure to microwave radiation for consumption is at least about 70%, preferably at least about 80%, and most preferably at least about 90% of the first point of inflection of the shielding power versus thickness curve. These values are determinable by calculation using the following equation to produce a shielding value curve as hereinafter described in reference to determining absorbance and reflectance values. Based on theory and assuming a layer in free space, absorbance, transmission and reflectance can be calculated by: ##EQU1## Where: A=Fraction of absorbed power

d=Thickness

e=Base of natural log

i=√-1

k=Extinction coefficient

n=Refractive index

r=Reflected electric field intensity

t=Transmitted electric field intensity

λ_(o) =Wavelength=12.24 cm @ 2450 megahertz

n-ik=√E'-iE"

The terms absorbance, reflectance and transmission as used herein are defined as follows: absorbance (A) is that part of the incident power that is absorbed, reflectance |r|² is that part of the incident power that is reflected and transmission |t|² is that part of the power transmitted through the product or layer.

This equation is graphically illustrated in FIGS. 9A, B, and C. The formula is based on the product being a layer in free space at 2450 megahertz and can probably be improved for accuracy to include layers not in free space. Transmission and reflectance can also be measured by a Genesys Machine (manufactured by Gerling Laboratories).

Further, preferably the shielding layer has a substantial amount of water. Also, preferably, this water should be free water and unfrozen at the storage temperature or temperature of the product just prior to heating in the microwave oven. Preferably, the free water content be in the range of between about 20% and about 95%, preferably in the range of between about 24% and about 90%, and most preferably in the range of between about 27% and about 85% by weight of shielding layer just prior to exposure to radiation. This free water level can be measured by the procedure set forth in AOAC (methods of analysis) 14th edition, 1984 section 31.118 using an air oven and exposing the sample to 70° C. for 16 hours under a pressure of less than 50 mm HG. Preferably, the shielding component should have less than about 50% ice, preferably less than about 30% ice, and most preferably less than about 10% ice by weight of said component as measured just prior to exposure to radiation. Ice content can be measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The amount of free water and ice can be easily adjusted by controlling the additives to this layer, as described above, which can function as freezing point depressants as well as viscosifiers if desired.

If the water in the shielding layer is ice, its ability to shield is substantially reduced, but could be utilized in systems requiring little shielding.

Also, it is to be understood that the shielding layer as described above can be in multiple layers and can also be nonhomogeneous for example it could contain particulate material. With the described values for the layer applying to the composite layers as well. An example of this would be a sundae with both a chocolate sauce and a caramel sauce positioned adjacent to one another and forming a shield around, for example, ice cream.

The shielding or control layer has thickness and dielectric properties such that of the incident microwave power impinging from the oven side on the exposed, direct or indirect, major surface thereof about 20% to about 90%, preferably about 25% to about 80% and more preferably about 30% to about 80% of the incident power is reflected and about 10% to about 65%, preferably about 15% to about 65% and more preferably about 20% to about 65% of the incident power is absorbed and preferably the sum of reflected and absorbed power for shielding or control exceeds about 60% more preferably about 70% and most preferably about 80%. These values for absorbance and reflectance and also for transmission and shielding (as well as the first point of inflection as disclosed above) as disclosed in the specification and as used in the claims (except as noted below for a composite layer) are determined for a single layer by calculation from the above equation A=1-|t|² -|r|². E' and E" can be measured with a network analyzer, such as a Hewlett Packard network analyzer. By using the E' and E" values in the equation absorbance, reflectance, transmission and shielding can be calculated. E' and E" and hence the absorbance, reflectance, transmission and shielding values are for the product at a temperature the same as that at which the product would be just prior to exposure to microwave radiation for consumption. For a multiple layer "layer", absorbance, reflectance, transmission and shielding can be measured or determined for the composite using a coaxial wave guide at the subject temperature as just described. The shielding value is the numerical sum of reflectance and absorbance values or 1.0 minus transmission.

The thickness of the shielding layer is selected to exceed a minimum thickness preferably above about 0.25 cm more preferably above about 0.4 cm and most preferably above about 0.5 cm. The thickness of the layer can be nonuniform and it is preferred that a major portion, preferably at least about 75% and more preferably at least about 90% and most preferably all, on an area basis, is in excess of these values. It can be seen from FIGS. 9A, B, and C that a thickness in excess of a minimum in practicality will only slightly change the amount of the shielding ability or value of the shielding layer. However, it can be seen from the curves denoted reflectance and absorbance that a further increase in the thickness can change the relative amounts of absorbance and reflectance allowing fine tuning of the time/temperature relationship for heating during exposure to microwave radiation. This allows for the design of food products to achieve adequate shielding while being able to adjust the temperature of the shielding layer and outer layer(s) without significantly or substantially changing the shielding ability of the shield layer.

The above values are based on a microwave frequency of 2,450 megahertz. These values will change as the frequency changes. The most utilized frequency for operation of home microwave ovens is 2,450 megahertz and an industrially used microwave frequency is 915 megahertz. Thus, if the frequency changes the mode of control is the same but the values for thickness, dielectric properties, absorbance, transmission and reflectance will change but are accommodatable with the theory and equations.

The heating of any food system or product, including microwave heating, is dynamic and temperature varies with time and location in the product. This is particularly true with microwave heating because of the changing dielectric properties of the product as its temperature changes. Heating results in temperature gradients within each of the components and from component to component in a system. Further, because of the nonuniformity of microwave heating of a food product it can have hot and cold spots within the product. Therefore, it is difficult to define a microwave heated product by its temperature because of the variability of the temperature within such a nonuniformly heated product. Temperature can be measured at various locations within a product to determine an appropriate time/temperature relationship and would normally be done on an empirical basis after determining the proper location and number of the temperature probes. This type of data can be correlated to consumer testing of the product. However, the desired end result of heating is the perception by the consumer of the product temperature or temperature differential and/or the degree of cooking, e.g., overcooked or undercooked.

The time/temperature relationship of the product during heating determines both the final temperature and the degree of cooking, i.e., the total heat or energy uptake. Consumer perception of temperature and degree of cooking can be tested organoleptically, for example, too hot, too cold, overcooked or undercooked. In fact, actual temperature is not necessarily the relevant criteria, but the perception of temperature, for example, two ice creams which are at the same temperature can be consumed, but the sensation of temperature to a consumer is different. This can be caused, e.g., by the differing ice contents of the products, i.e., a high ice content product can be perceived as very cold when in fact it has the same temperature as a lower ice product.

A time/temperature relationship can be measured by temperature probes at given locations which can give a representative but incomplete indication of the dynamics of the system at predetermined locations. Such testing can indicate proper or improper heating. However, the final temperature of the product is better measured organoleptically. Thus, within the desired time range of heating, the product should not be overcooked or undercooked and should not become overly hot or stay too cold from an organoleptic standpoint or one product should not heat faster than another product, whereby, the consumer perceives the resulting product as not being properly heated. Preparation instructions can be devised by both organoleptic testing and temperature measurement systems for different wattage ovens to determine the appropriate time range and time/temperature relationship generally required to achieve an acceptable end product, i.e., within a temperature range for consumption.

Heating of a product is done within a predetermined or selected time/temperature relationship range and the final product temperature should be within a predetermined or selected temperature range suitable. The final temperature can be that desired for consumption or the product can cool from the final temperature or equilibrate before consumption. The ranges are predetermined or selected by evaluating the heated or cooked product(s) for ensuring adequate heating to provide an acceptably cooked and/or appropriate temperature for consumption.

It can also be seen from FIGS. 9A, B, and C that there are several ways to design a product to achieve similar desired end results for a given product. If one needs to preselect the dielectric properties or the free water level because of product constraints, then an adjustment in the thickness of the shielding layer above a minimum thickness will vary the heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship as described above. It should be noted, according to theory, that absorbed power initially increases with an increase in thickness but quickly reaches a relatively flat response, i.e., a further increase does not substantially increase or decrease absorbance. Thereafter, further increases can substantially increase or decrease absorbance. Thus, with a given sauce, i.e., dielectric properties or free water level, the thickness can be varied to control the heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship. It would be preferred to preselect a range or ranges of thicknesses such that a change in thickness results in a relatively small increase or decrease or change in absorbance and reflectance values so that the thickness is not critical. If the layer thickness is a constraint, then the dielectric properties or free water level can be adjusted to achieve the same control over the heating characteristics of the shielding sauce layer. Another aspect of utilizing the invention is that the dielectric properties or free water level can be determined to be within predetermined ranges and also, the thickness can be predetermined to be within a predetermined range. Then, both the thickness and dielectric properties or free water level can be varied within these ranges to achieve the proper heating characteristics or time/temperature relationships during heating. Even more significantly, in making a three-layer product, for example, the brownie, sauce, and ice cream product, by changing the reflectance of the shield, thereby oppositely changing the absorbance of the shielding layer, the heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the brownie can be changed. The reflectance value of the shield can be increased or decreased thereby allowing fine tuning of the heating of the brownie by providing it more or less energy. Thus, it can be seen that the invention herein provides means for controlling the heating characteristics of one component foods as well the different components of a multi-component food system in an easy manner.

The heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the brownie or exposed component can be varied by varying its thickness and/or dielectric properties or free water level. Also, the heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the directly exposed component can be varied by varying the thickness and/or dielectric properties or free water level of an indirectly exposed control layer adjacent thereto, i.e., by varying its absorbance and reflectance as described above. Thus, the final brownie temperature can be controlled or adjusted by the control or adjustment of the indirectly exposed control layer's thickness and/or dielectric properties or free water level characteristics. For example, the brownie can remain relatively cool during heating while the sauce layer can be made to heat to a relatively higher temperature by having high absorbance and low reflectance. The brownie can be heated to a relatively higher temperature and the control layer to a relatively lower temperature by its having high absorbance and low reflectivity. Another product concept that could use this control mechanism could be a filled pastry or brownie or a product where the control layer is inside one or more surrounding products or between two or more products or layers.

An evaluation of FIGS. 9B, D, E, F, and G shows the effect of changing E' and/or E". A decrease in E' dampens the effect of thickness on reflectance, absorbance and shielding if E" remains generally constant. An increase in E" also dampens the effect of thickness on reflectance, absorbance and shielding if E' remains generally constant. In particular, the thickness at which successive maxima or minima occur for reflectance and absorbance are increased or decreased by decreasing or increasing, respectively, E'. E' and E" can be adjusted to achieve a desired value for at least one of absorbance and reflectance at a selected thickness so that the food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range when exposed to microwave radiation. Conversely, the E' and/or E" value can be selected and the thickness adjusted to achieve the same performance characteristics. The value of E' and/or E" is preferably adequate to provide an acceptable tolerance for the range of or variation in product thickness. Thus, the critical nature of thickness can be changed, e.g., reduced, making the manufacture and heating of foods less critical. Another method to control the shape of the reflectance and absorbance curves is to change the value of n and K, respectively the real and imaginary parts of the square root of the complex dielectric permittivity. As n increases the thicknesses at which successive maxima and minima occur in the absorbance and reflectance curves decrease. As K increases the intensity difference between successive maxima and minima in the absorbance and reflectance curves decreases. The converse of the above manipulations results in opposite changes.

E' and E" can be changed by changing the free water level and/or by changing the concentration of and the solutes in the food or edible product or the other components therein. Typically a change in E' or E" will result in a change in the other but it is possible to effect a much larger change in one than the other.

What is meant by direct exposure to microwave radiation is that on first impingement of the radiation, the radiation has not passed through another food product whereas indirect exposure means the radiation has just passed through another food. Passage through or reflection from packaging or oven components does not mean the food is not directly exposed.

In summary, one can preselect a thickness of the control layer and vary the dielectric properties or free water level to achieve the appropriate heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the shielded product. Also, one can preselect the dielectric properties or free water level and vary the thickness of the control layer to achieve the desired heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the shielded product. Still further, one can have in the product a given control layer thickness and have dielectric properties or free water level selected to achieve desired heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the nonshielded or exposed layer or conversely, the control layer can have given dielectric properties or a given free water level and have thickness selected to achieve the desired heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the nonshielded or exposed layer. Still further, in the process of making the product one can select a thickness for the control layer and vary the dielectric properties or free water level to provide the desired heating characteristics or its time/temperature relationship of the control layer or conversely, one can have selected dielectric properties or free water level and vary the thickness to provide the desired heating characteristics or time/temperature relationship of the control layer. Likewise, one can in the process of making the product select thickness and dielectric properties or free water level from within predetermined ranges of values and select values from within the range to provide the desired heating characteristics and/or time/temperature relationship in the same manners just described. Also, in the product one can have a given value of thickness or dielectric properties and free water level from within a predetermined range and have a value for the other selected from within a predetermined range.

From the above, it can be seen that the present invention can be utilized in several ways to control the disposition of microwave energy in the different components of the multi-component system. This can be accomplished by varying one or more properties over a wide range providing flexibility in product concepts.

A particularly preferred embodiment is that shown in FIG. 1 and is described hereinafter. It includes a brownie positioned in the bottom of a shielded cup having a layer of chocolate sauce positioned thereover and in contact therewith and having positioned over the sauce a layer of ice cream in contact with the sauce each contact surface being generally flat. Each layer has a substantially uniform thickness but it is particularly desired for the sauce to have a uniform thickness. The metal shield and the sauce cooperate with one another to substantially completely and preferably completely surround the ice cream to prevent leakage of microwave radiation through gaps between the shielding layer and the metal shield.

When data were taken for comparison of similar or the same products the temperature probes were located in positions that were believed would provide the most valid and/or reliable data even if they were in different locations in the same or different products. The attempt was to locate the probes in constant positions relative to the geometry of the containers.

FIG. 3 shows the results of a series of experiments to test a two layer system of ice cream and sauce. The ice cream and sauce are substantially as described for the product used in the FIG. 2 experiments. FIG. 3 shows the effect of the thickness of the shielding layer on ice cream temperature for various heating times. The graphs shows that for increasing control layer (sauce) thickness, the higher the shielding effect of the shielding component. Further increases in thickness would be expected to increase the shield value but at a reduced rate. The data agrees with the theoretically obtained shield power curve of FIG. 9A. FIG. 3 was corrected for different starting temperatures to better show the results.

When viewing FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 9A, it is seen that absorbance and reflectance both vary oppositely with increasing thickness with these curves having a somewhat sinusoidal shape. This means that an increase in thickness can both increase and decrease absorption and reflection. However, when evaluating the shielded power curve (which is total incident power minus the transmitted power), it is seen, from a practical standpoint, that an increase in thickness results in an increase in shielded power or a decrease in transmitted power with only a slight reversal of that trend after a first thickness peak or maximum. However, this change is of a minor nature and practically is of little consequence. It can be seen from these graphs that with a desired amount of shielded power that the absorbance and reflectance can be changed to change the heating characteristics of the shielding layer, i.e., it can be made to heat more or less by adjusting the dielectric properties of the shielding layer. The theoretical approach of FIG. 9A is supported by actual data taken which is illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 illustrate various temperature relationships as functions of microwave heating time for food component systems with and without a shielding layer. The brownie and ice cream components of this system are substantially as those described in the explanation of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 also includes other than an edible shielding layer, i.e., aluminum foil and silicon foam and also shows the use of two edible shielding layers with different water content. These four figures show the effect of the use of a shielding layer versus a product without a shielding layer and the effect of the amount of shielding provided by the shield layer. The graphs show that the lower the microwave transmissivity the higher the temperature differential.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a functional relationship between temperature differential, shielding layer thickness and microwave heating time. The graph was generated by calculation using a model constructed with the raw data of FIG. 7. The product had a sauce with dielectric properties the same as those used in FIG. 9A.

FIGS. 9A, B, and C are families of curves showing the functional relationship between percent of reflected power, absorbed power, shielded power, and relative heating rate as functions of the shielding layer thickness. This was based on calculations using E' values of 13, 26, and 39 and E" values of 3.5, 7.0, and 10.5, respectively. As E' and E" change, the characteristics of the shielding or control effect of the intermediate layer also change, i.e., as E' and E" increase in value the amplitude of the variables increase and the wavelengths decrease. Higher E' and E" values are for higher free water level sauces.

There is currently being sold a microwaveable ice cream sundae called Hot Scoop. It contains a total product weight of 150 grams which comprises approximately 90 grams of ice cream and about 60 grams of sauces. Sauces available are a chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and a mint flavored sauce. Heating experiments were conducted on the chocolate and mint products measuring the ice cream temperature at 2 cm from the sidewall and 1 cm below the sauce layer on top and attempting to measure the sauce temperature at 2 cm from the sidewall through the top cover and into the sauce at a depth of 4 to 6 mm which was difficult in view of the thinness of sauce and the dynamic property of the product when it is heated, e.g., the sauce sinks into the ice cream and the ice cream comes up around the sides when heated. The sauce temperature readings, although taken as well as could be done, are probably not very accurate. The temperature differential between the sauce and the ice cream was calculated from the temperature measurements graphically depicted in FIG. 10 as a function of heating time. As shown, Hot Scoop product achieved no measurable temperature difference between the ice cream and sauce indicating that the ice cream and sauce were heating, at least where measured and as measured, at the same rate providing no differential temperature.

In contrast, by practicing the present invention, it is seen in FIG. 10 that much greater differential heating was achieved. Product against which the Hot Scoop product was tested was in a metal shielded cup as seen in FIG. 1 with a total component weight of 134 grams comprising 60 grams of ice cream, 32 grams of sauce, and 42 grams of brownie with the shielding sauce having a thickness of 0.6 cm. Further, it can be seen in FIG. 11 that the heating time of the Hot Scoop product is extremely critical while the heating time for the invention product is much more tolerant to heating time variations in a microwave oven. Also, the invention product is designed to substantially prevent movement of the layers, particularly the shield layer, substantially throughout heating. This is accomplished by having generally flat layers or coplanar layers.

To further illustrate the importance of practicing differential heating in accordance with the present invention other experiments were run. Heating experiments were conducted using a container as shown in FIG. 1 having a height of 6.03 cm, a bottom diameter of 6.98 cm, and a top diameter of the sidewall of 8.46 cm, and a 7° sidewall taper containing ice cream. In the first series of experiments, ice cream was placed in the cup and was coated entirely with a 6 mm layer of Mellocream sauce. The ice cream was standard ice cream and the Mellocream is a standard fudge sauce available from J. Hungerford Smith Company. The cup had no shielding label or lid. In these experiments using the Mellocream, the 6 mm coating of sauce weighed 120 grams. The ice cream weighed 50 grams and had a height of 27 mm giving a total weight in the cup of 170 grams and a total height of 39 mm. Temperature probes were located 18 mm in and 15 mm up, one on each side and 19 mm in and 24 mm up, one on each side to measure the temperature of the ice cream. Also, the same cup was used and contained 170 grams of ice cream, 60 mm high with no sauce. FIG. 30 shows the functional relationship between the ice cream temperature and heating time for the sauce (line B) and no sauce (line A) versions. Both were unsuccessful in retaining the ice cream quality after heating. There was no significant difference between the heating of the shielded product and the nonshielded ice cream.

A similar series of experiments were run using a similar but larger cup with no metal shielding. In this case a 12 mm thick fudge shield was used using standard ice cream and standard Mellocream fudge sauce. The cup had a bottom inside diameter of 96 mm and a top inside diameter of 106 mm and a height of 96 mm. The sauce coating was 12 mm thick and weighed 444 grams and completely surrounded the ice cream. The ice cream weighed 100 grams and had a height of 36 mm providing a total weight of product of 544 grams and a total height of 60 mm. Temperature probes were located 20 mm in and 22 mm up and 20 mm in and 45 mm up, one on each side. This product was compared to 314 grams of unshielded ice cream in the same cup. The ice cream had a height of 60 mm. FIGS. 25 and 26 show a functional relationship between temperature and microwave time showing effectiveness of the shielding layer when the thickness and the relative thermal loads are properly selected. Thus, without the proper selection of properties effective shielding is not achieved. To shield an ice cream product such as Hot Scoop only with sauce to prevent melt-down of the ice cream would require substantially more sauce and ice cream than when metal shielding is used.

In some of the following examples using ice cream, brownie and sauces in juxtaposed layers in a plastic cup the following are preferred embodiments for the products and container. The brownie is made from a brownie mix and is baked to about a 14% moisture content. Approximate formula of the brownie mix, by weight of mix, is flour 29.1%, enrichment 0.024%, sugar 51.8%, shortening 7.5%, cocoa 0.37%, cocoa 1.96%, cocoa 2.21% (the three cocoas are different), soda 0.05%, salt 0.76%, vanilla flavor 0.14%, chocolate liquor 6%, and albumin 0.6%. Eggs, oil, and water are added to the mix to form a batter with the approximate formula of the batter, for a dry mix with albumin, mix 71%, Durkex 100 oil 11.6%, and water 17.3%. It is preferred that the vertical edge of brownie when in the cup is spaced from the bottom end of the shield 4 at least 3 mm when localized heating of the brownie has occurred when positioned closer.

A preferred intermediate layer in this product is a fudge sauce and hereinafter is referred to as a "control sauce" and contains the approximate following percentages by weight of ingredients: Sugar 15.6%, corn syrup 9.2%, high fructose corn syrup 10.3%, sweet condensed milk 30.6%, shortening 8%, cocoa 7%, nonfat dry milk 1%, salt 0.3%, vanilla 0.25%, starch 1.2%, alginate 0.6%, and distilled water 15.87%. Higher moisture sauces vary primarily from this formula by the amount of water therein. Another acceptable sauce is Johnston's Red Label sauce which is commercially available. For flowability, the sauce should have good shear thinning properties.

A preferred ice cream has an overrun of 70%, a butterfat content of approximately 12%, vanilla flavor and a churned out fat content of approximately 1.25%. The fat globule size preferably is about 3 to about 10 microns as compared to a normal ice cream which has unchurned fat with a fat globule size of about 1 to 2 microns. It was unexpectedly found that ice cream containing a churned out fat content by weight of ice cream of about 1% to about 2% perferably about 1.2% to about 1.8% most preferably about 1.4% to 1.6% by weight of ice cream was more stable during microwave exposure. Churned out fat means that the fat globule sizes are about 3 to about 10 microns in diameter. The reason for improved microwave exposure stability is unclear. Normal ice cream has little or no churned out fat, about 0.3% or less by weight.

A preferred package for single serve products is shown in FIG. 1. It has a container 3 wall thickness of 0.15 cm and is made from high density polyethylene with the dimensions as described above. It is preferred that the top 5 be 48 gauge (0.0011 cm) polyethylene of 7 pound low density polyethylene as the outer laminant with a 35 gauge (0.0009 cm) foil laminated thereon with a 1.5 mil (0.0025 cm) extrudable hot melt as the inner laminant with the foil between the inner and outer laminants. A preferred shielding label 4 material is a 48 gauge (0.0011 cm) polyethylene of 7 pound low density polyethylene material as an outer laminant with a 28 gauge (0.0007 cm) aluminum foil layer laminated between the outer laminant and a 2 mil (0.0005 cm) Surlyn inner laminant. A preferred cup 3 diameter is 8.1 cm in diameter when the cup is cylindrical, but if frusto conical it is preferred that the minimum diameter be in the range of 7.0 cm to 8.5 cm inches while the height of the aluminum portion of the label is preferred to be 6.1 cm in height with the two ends electrically connected or spaced apart about 0.32 cm.

The above described shielded cup is particularly good for the prevention of arcing in single size serving containers.

The above identified figures which are based on the three component brownie-sauce-ice cream system or the brownie and ice cream system utilize the above described brownie sauce and ice cream in a tapered sidewall cup as described. The graphs illustrate the operability of the present invention.

To show operability of the present invention the following additional examples are provided.

EXAMPLE 1

Experimentation was conducted to demonstrate the shielding effect of a cheese sauce to avoid overcooking of broccoli which is desired to be heated to a serving temperature and retain crispness. Broccoli and cheese sauce were placed in a tapered wall cup with metal shielding on the side and top as described above. The broccoli was heated both with the cheese sauce shield and without a cheese sauce shield. A shear press measurement was used to measure the crispness of the broccoli after heating. The shear press value of raw broccoli and the microwave heated broccoli with no cheese sauce and with cheese sauce was measured with the heating time being about 3 minutes and 30 seconds in a 770 watt oven. FIG. 12 shows graphically the effect of the use of a cheese layer shield on the degree of broccoli cooking. The broccoli with the cheese sauce shield was significantly crisper than the nonshielded version which was not crisp, and was only slightly less crisp than a raw broccoli. Thus, the effectiveness of cheese sauce layer to shield broccoli positioned on top of the cheese sauce is demonstrated. The broccoli was 70% stems and 30% florets cut to 1 to 2 cm in length and 0.8 to 1.5 cm in diameter. The cheese sauce had a moisture content of approximately 75.5% by weight of the cheese sauce. The cheese sauce weight was 26 grams and was 6 mm in height (thickness). The broccoli weight was 64 grams in the cheese sauce shielded version for a total weight of 90 grams and was microwaved for three minutes and thirty seconds. The unshielded version contained 90 grams of broccoli and was also microwave heated for three minutes and thirty seconds. In the unheated broccoli, 50 grams of broccoli was used. The reduced weight was due to space requirements in the cup.

EXAMPLE 2

A bread and gravy system was used in the above described tapered wall metal shielded cup having a lower layer of gravy with bread on top. This was compared to bread in an identical cup, but using two layers of bread and no gravy. The firmness of the bread was measured after heating in both systems to compare the unshielded to the shielded bread. The bread was a standard white bread cut to fit the inside diameter of the cup and the gravy was Home Style gravy made by H. J. Heinz Company. In the gravy version, 48 grams of gravy with a height of 11 mm was used and 10 grams of bread with a height of 11 mm for a total weight of 58 grams and a total height of 22 mm were microwaved for 25 seconds in a 770 watt oven. In the unshielded version, two pieces of bread, both weighing 10 grams and having a height of 11 mm, were heated for a combined total of 20 grams of product and a 22 mm height and were heated for 25 seconds in the same oven. FIG. 13 graphically shows the toughening of the bread which occurs upon further heating with a much higher toughening or pounds force per gram of bread in a system without a shield than with the shield. The testing was done on an Instron machine. A layer of Saran film was interposed between the bread and gravy to prevent moisture migration so that this would not effect the bread toughening testing.

EXAMPLE 3

A strawberry shortcake product was made using a layer of Cool Whip brand topping with a strawberry filling between it and a layer of shortcake which was on the bottom of the tapered wall cup having the metal shielded side and top. This product was compared to a similar product without the strawberry filling between the Cool Whip and shortcake. In the shielded version, the shortcake weighed 28 grams and had a height of 1.8 cm, the filling weight was 60 grams and had a height of 1 cm, the topping had a weight of 25 grams and a height of 2.2 cm for a total weight of 113 grams and a total height of 5 cm. In the unshielded version, the shortcake weighed 28 grams and had a height of 1.8 cm, topping weight of 40 grams, and a height of 3.2 cm for a total weight of 68 grams and a total height of 5 cm. Temperature probes were located 3 cm in and 3.7 cm up and 2 cm in 1 cm up, one on each side. FIGS. 14 through 17 graphically illustrate the effect of heating on these two different systems and the effectiveness of the shielding effect of the intermediate filling layer. It is interesting to note that FIG. 14 shows a relatively flat response curve after the initial increase in temperature differential for the filled version compared to the nonfilled version and that the shortcake temperature shown in FIG. 16 generally followed the same curve for both the filled and nonfilled versions. FIG. 17 shows topping temperatures illustrating the large increase in temperature of the nonfilled or nonshielded version as opposed to the shielded version. A review of FIGS. 14-17 indicates that the strawberry filling is acting as an absorber, not a reflector, while still providing shielding. This is indicated by the cake temperature profiles in FIG. 16.

EXAMPLE 4

An apple pie a la mode product was made in the shielded tapered wall cup as described above. Product consisted of a 50 gram layer of ice cream which was positioned over a 20 gram layer of Chef Pierre brand prebaked crumb topping which in turn was positioned over a 110 gram layer of prebaked Chef Pierre apple filling for a shield. This product was compared to 175 grams of ice cream in the same cup. The location of the two temperature probes were 4 cm up and 2 cm in and 1 cm up and 2 cm in, with one on each side at each location. FIGS. 18 through 20 graphically illustrate the heating responses of the two different products showing the effectiveness of the apple pie filling as a shielding layer.

The above examples illustrate that the present invention is an effective and tolerant way of achieving temperature differential in multi-component food systems. It shows that a low temperature differential can be achieved as well very high temperature differentials. The invention provides for the manufacture of many food items which heretofore have not been available for microwave heating. In fact, a brownie and ice cream system could not be differentially heated in any other manner if the two components are packaged together. This is achievable because of the short time required to heat foods in a microwave oven and the use of the shielding layer. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of making a microwave heatable food product, including:selecting a thickness of said food product; and adjusting at least one dielectric property of said food product according to said thickness to achieve an approximate local maximum or local minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product during exposure to microwave radiation whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting of said at least one dielectric property comprises adjusting a free water level of said food product.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting of said at least one dielectric property comprises adjusting an E' value of said food product.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting of said at least one dielectric property comprises adjusting an E" value of said food product.
 5. A method of making a microwave heatable food product, including:selecting at least one dielectric property of said food product; and adjusting a thickness of said food product according to said at least one dielectric property to achieve an approximate local maximum or local minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product during exposure to microwave radiation whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said selecting of said at least one dielectric property comprises selecting a free water level of said food product.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said selecting of said at least one dielectric property comprises selecting an E' value of said food product.
 8. The method of claim 5 wherein said selecting of said at least one dielectric property comprises selecting an E" value of said food product.
 9. A method of making a microwave heatable food product, including adjusting thickness and at least one dielectric property of said food product to achieve an approximate local maximum or local minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product during exposure to microwave radiation, whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation.
 10. A method of making a microwave heatable food product, including adjusting a thickness of said food product to achieve an approximate local maximum or local minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product during exposure to microwave radiation, whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation.
 11. A method of making a microwave heatable food product, including adjusting at least one dielectric property of said food product to achieve an approximate local maximum or local minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product during exposure to microwave radiation whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation.
 12. A microwave heatable food product having a selected thickness and having at least one dielectric property adjusted according to said thickness whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation and whereby an approximate local maximum or minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product is achieved during exposure to microwave radiation.
 13. The microwave heatable food product of claim 12 wherein a free water level of said food product has been adjusted.
 14. The microwave heatable food product of claim 12 wherein an E' value of said food product has been adjusted.
 15. The microwave heatable food product of claim 12 wherein an E" value of said food product has been adjusted.
 16. A microwave heatable food product having at least one selected dielectric property and having a thickness adjusted according to said at least one dielectric property whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation and whereby an approximate local maximum or minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product is achieved during exposure to microwave radiation.
 17. The microwave heatable food product of claim 16 wherein a free water level of said food product has been selected.
 18. The microwave heatable food product of claim 16 wherein an E' value of said food product has been selected.
 19. The microwave heatable food product of claim 16 wherein an E" value of said food product has been selected.
 20. A microwave heatable food product having thickness and at least one dielectric property adjusted whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation and whereby an approximate local maximum or minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product is achieved during exposure to microwave radiation.
 21. A method of controlled microwave heating of a food product comprising:(a) placing a food product in a microwave oven, the thickness of said food product having been selected whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation and whereby an approximate local maximum or minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product is achieved during exposure to microwave radiation; and (b) exposing said food product to microwave radiation for a time period sufficient to heat said food product to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range.
 22. A method of controlled microwave heating of a food product comprising:(a) placing a food product in a microwave oven, at least one dielectric property of said food product having been selected whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation and whereby an approximate local maximum or minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product is achieved during exposure to microwave radiation; and (b) exposing said food product to microwave radiation for a time period sufficient to heat said food product to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range.
 23. A method of controlled microwave heating of a food product comprising:(a) placing a food product in a microwave oven, a thickness and at least one dielectric property of said food product having been selected whereby said food product will heat within a predetermined time/temperature relationship range upon exposure to microwave radiation and whereby an approximate local maximum or minimum in the functional relationship between power absorbance and thickness of said food product is achieved during exposure to microwave radiation; and (b) exposing said food product to microwave radiation for a time period sufficient to heat said food product to a temperature within a predetermined temperature range. 